BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ The planned documentary by the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) on Michael Sam, the NFL’s first openly gay football player, has been postponed. After meetings with Sam’s new team, the St Louis Rams, it was decided ‘The Untitled Michael Sam Project’ will be put off to give him ‘the best opportunity to achieve his dream of making the team’. As a 7th-round draft pick, he’ll face hefty challenges just to make the Rams; it’s thought being the subject of a TV documentary could be a major distraction.
– USAToday.com
★ Whatever happened to the big wedding in Paris? A source tells “People” that Kanye West & Kim Kardashian are now planning to wed next weekend at a 16th-century fortress in Florence, Italy called the Forte di Belvedere. The magazine suggests the nuptials could be a ‘multi-country affair’ with a dinner in France and the ceremony itself in Italy. In an interview on Friday, Kanye suggested the couple’s fascination with Florence is because daughter North may have been conceived there, quote: ‘among the Renaissance masterpieces’.
– People.com
★ And triple Tony-award winning actress Glenn Close will return to Broadway later this year after a 20-year absence, starring opposite John Lithgow in a new production of Edward Albee’s “A Delicate Balance”. Close (67) will appear in a limited 18-week run of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play that begins previews on October 20th and opens a month later. She last appeared on the Great White Way in the musical “Sunset Boulevard”, winning a Tony for her portrayal of aging actress ‘Norma Desmond’ in 1995.
– Reuters.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – Ghost Of a Saber Tooth Tiger (“Midnight Sun”).
• “Dancing With the Stars” (ABC) – The remaining couples perform.
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CTV2) – Sia (“1000 Forms of Fear”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Charles Bradley (“Victim of Love”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Band of Skulls (“Himalayan”).
• “Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” (CBS) – Jamestown Revival (“The California EP”).
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV2) – Counting Crows (“Underwater Sunshine”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS/Omni1) – Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks (“Wig Out at Jagbags”).
• “Live With Kelly & Michael” (syndicated/CTV) – Blondie (“Blondie 4[0]-Ever: Greatest Hits Deluxe Redux”).
• “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Conor Oberst (“Conor Oberst”).
• “The Voice” (NBC/CTV2) – The artists perform; each of the coaches perform.
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo) – Sara Bareilles (“The Blessed Unrest”).
• Webby Awards (NYC) – Patton Oswalt hosts the 18th annual, recognizing online content in 100-plus categories from best political blog to best viral video. The panel of judges includes Tumblr founder David Karp, HuffingtonPost founder Arianna Huffington, “House of Cards” star Kevin Spacey, and Dana Brunetti of Trigger Street Productions. Among this year’s winners …
– Best Music App: Jay Z’s “Magna Carta Holy Grail”.
– Best Music Video: Arcade Fire’s “Reflektor”.
– Best Use of Interactive Video: Pharrell’s “24 Hours of Happy”.
The gala streams online beginning tomorrow.
NET: http://www.webbyawards.com

TONIGHT’S TV FINALÉ:
• “Mike & Molly” (CBS) – Season 4 finalé.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• As I Lay Dying – Singer Tim Lambesis has been sentenced to 6 years for plotting to kill his ex-wife. In February the heavy rocker pleaded guilty to soliciting an undercover cop to murder Meggan Lambesis. He learned of his punishment at a Friday hearing in San Diego CA.
• Coldplay – Today they release their new 11-song 6th studio album “Ghost Stories”, their first since 2011’s “Mylo Xyloto”. Their hour-long TV special blending recent live performance footage with 360-degree imagery aired last night on NBC-TV.
• Brantley Gilbert – Today he releases his 3rd studio album, “Just As I Am”.  He co-wrote every track on the project including the lead single, “Bottoms Up”, which hit the top of the ‘Billboard Hot Country Songs’ chart.
• DJ Afrojack – Today’s full-length album release, “Forget the World”, boasts collaborations with Wiz Khalifa (“Too Wild”) and Sting (“Catch Tomorrow”), among others.
• Justin Bieber – Another day, another lawsuit. This time it’s by a photog who claims Bieber’s bodyguard locked him in a Subway restaurant, kicked and punched him, then stole his camera’s memory card on the night the Biebs was busted for DUI in Miami Beach FL.
• Sum 41 – Frontman Deryck Whibley has admitted he’s battling alcoholism, which has left him hospitalized with severe liver and kidney damage. The 34-year-old ex-husband of pop star Avril Lavigne says he’s perhaps just one more drink away from losing his life.
• Zac Brown Band – Today “The Grohl Sessions Volume 1” becomes available on CD through Best Buy, Walmart, and at the band’s concerts. The set featuring Foo Fighters’ frontman Dave Grohl includes a DVD with live footage and interviews. It was released digitally last December.

BY THE NUMBERS:
A new study by the Anti-Defamation League has found that 1-in-4 adults believe a majority of negative Jewish stereotypes. The survey, which polled over 50,000 adults in 102 countries, has also found that Middle Eastern and North African countries are the most anti-Semitic; the West Bank and Gaza topping the list, with 93% of adults holding anti-Semitic views. Iraq is 2nd at 92%, followed by Yemen (88%), and Algeria (87%). Another key finding: 74% of adults have never met a Jewish person.
– NYDailyNews.com

GAS-SAVING TIPS:
Now that it’s almost cheaper to have your car towed to work, here are a few money-saving suggestions …
• Accelerating quickly is one of the worst things you can do to reduce gas mileage.
• Running the A/C reduces fuel efficiency by 3-to-4 mpg.
• Never race to a stoplight and then brake hard. It’s hard on gas mileage and the vehicle.
• Always put your vehicle in overdrive or in the top manual gear when cruising on the highway.
• Buying a new or used vehicle? The smaller engine that comes with the base model is almost always powerful enough and uses less fuel.
– “Indianapolis Star”

A NEW KIND OF BREAKFAST CLUB:
Plenty of dance parties end as the sun is coming up, but now there’s a new version that starts at dawn to set you up for the rest of the day. In NYC, ‘DayBreaker’ dance parties are becoming popular. Participants say the appeal is partying hard without self-destruction. Coffee and techno music are the strongest stimulants you’ll find. The sober dance partes, which start at 7 am, were first launched last December. There have been 6 since, and the dance crowd seems ready for lots more. What’s the attraction? According to one enthusiast, why would you want to go on a treadmill at the gym in the morning when you can hit the dance floor?
– “New York Daily News”

HEAVIEST-DRINKING COUNTRIES:
According to a new analysis of alcohol-related stats in countries worldwide …
5. Romania – Drinking rates among younger Romanians are particularly high, with more than 37% of teenagers 15-to-19 admitting to binge drinking within the past 30 days.
4. Russian Federation – Russians drink 15.1 liters of alcohol per capita per year, among the highest averages in the world.
3. Lithuania – 2nd only to Austria in terms of the percentage of drinkers who engage in binge-drinking.
2. Republic of Moldova – The world’s ‘moonshine’ capital, it’s among the only countries where illicit alcohol consumption exceeds government-sanctioned alcohol consumption.
1. Belarus – The world’s highest level of alcohol consumption at 17.5 liters of alcohol per capita annually. Alcohol is a factor in nearly 35% of all deaths, most of any nation in the world.
– 247wallst.com

NOT GETTING THE WORD:
Children and teens aren’t reading for fun as much as previous generations, according to a new study. San Francisco-based nonprofit Common Sense media – which examines how media and technology affect children – has found that only 76% of 9-year-olds now read for pleasure more than once a week, down from 81% in 1984. A third of 13-year-olds and half of 17-year-olds say they read for pleasure less than twice a year. So it hardly comes as a surprise that literacy has plummeted among young children. According to the report, just a third of 4th-graders are proficient in reading skills.
– NPR.org

DID YOU KNOW?
• In satisfaction terms, a new study finds that regularly going to the library is like getting a pay raise; while having a gym membership is like having your pay docked.
– “Times of London”
• New Yorkers don’t call their daughters ‘Brooklyn’ much, but in 39 US states it’s now the most common female baby name beginning with ‘B’.
– Slate.com
• In just 2 years (2011-12). China produced more cement  than the US did in the entire 20th century.
– “Financial Times”

BS CHRONOMETER 05.19.14

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1944 [70] Peter Mayhew, Barnes UK, 7’-3” movie actor (‘Chewbacca’ in “Star Wars” films) who is currently working on “Star Wars Episode VII”, now shooting in Britain

1945 [69] Pete Townshend, Chiswick UK, classic rock guitarist-singer (The Who-“Who Are You”, “Won’t Get Fooled Again”/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1990)  BS FACTOID: He wrote the classic “My Generation” on his 20th birthday in 1965.

1949 [65] Dusty Hill, Dallas TX, classic rock bassist-singer (ZZ Top-“Legs”, “Tush”)

1954 [60] Phil Rudd, Melbourne, Australia, rock drummer (AC/DC-“Stiff Upper Lip”, “Moneytalks”)

1983 [31] James Richardson, Memphis TN, indie rock guitarist (MGMT-“Electric Feel”, “Kids”)

BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Accounting Day”, an annual observance to promote the profession and provide an opportunity for networking among accountants in public practice, industry, and government.

• “Plant Something Day”, which many people would do if they could only be assured the plant would grow. What’s the most foolproof plant you can stick in your garden?

• “Victoria Day”, a uniquely Canadian holiday commemorating the birth of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Victoria, on May 24, 1819. The holiday originated in 1901 after her death, as a memorial day for her role in Confederation and other national milestones. Along with “Canada Day”, it’s the only Canadian holiday that’s not celebrated elsewhere.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2004 [10] Animated sequel “Shrek 2” opens in movie theaters, which goes on to make some $920 million worldwide

2005 [09] “Star Wars Episode III – Revenge Of the Sith” opens at 12:01 am, then grosses $50 million in a single day, a new record

2006 [08] “The Da Vinci Code” starring Tom Hanks opens in movie theaters, based on the mega-selling Dan Brown novel (eventually accrues $758 million in worldwide box office)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1984 [30] One hockey dynasty ends and another begins as the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers defeat the New York Islanders 5-2 to win the Stanley Cup (the first of 5 over the next 7 years)

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1995 [19] Balamurali Ambati graduates from NYC’s Mount Sinai Medical School at age 17 to become ‘World’s Youngest Doctor’

COMING UP . . .
[Tues] “The Voice” season finalé (NBC)
[Tues] Eliza Doolittle Day
[Tues] Weights & Measures Day
[Wed] Employee Health & Fitness Day
[Wed] End Of the World Party Day
[Wed] Wait Staff Day

THIS WEEK IS . . .
Backyard Games Week / Dog Bite Prevention Week / Educational Bosses Week / Emergency Medical Services Week / International Coaching Week / Medical Transcription Week / New Friends, Old Friends Week / Recreational Water Illness & Injury Prevention Week / Safe Boating Week / World Trade Week

BULL’S BITS

BEST OF BS:
Highlight bits culled from 21 years of “Bull Sheet” back issues …
GODZILLA, LOST IN TRANSLATION:
There have been dozens of ‘Godzilla’ films made in Japan. Some literal translations of Japanese ‘Godzilla’ movie titles (alongside their English-language titles) …
● “Three Giant Strange Creatures Greatest Decisive Battle on Earth” (in English called “Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster”)
● “All Strange Creatures Giant Attack” (“Godzilla’s Revenge”)
● “Strange Creature Giant War” (“Godzilla vs Monster Zero”)
● “Strange Creature All Attack” (“Destroy All Monsters! )
– First published in “BS” 1998.

WHICH LIVES LONGER?
• The average dog OR the average Canada Goose? (Dog 22 years/Canada Goose 33 years)
• A carp OR a cow? (100 years/22 years)
• Gerbil OR goat? (5 years/15 years)
• Giant tortoise OR parrot (152 years/80 years)
• Hippo OR human? (45 years/70-85 years)
– First published in “BS” 2009.
NET: http://www.FreeRadioPrep.com

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What’s the dumbest way you’ve ever injured yourself?

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
• Which of the following is NOT a drum?
a. Conga.
b. Tom-tom.
c. Marimba. [CORRECT, it’s the Latin version of the xylophone.]

• A recent study reveals that people who do THIS for a living live 9.2 years longer than the average person.
a. Raise earthworms. [CORRECT]
b. Grow tofu.
c. Work in radio.
– “Totally Trivial”

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Just think, if it wasn’t for chins and chests it would take 2 people to fold the laundry!

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: Surveys show that THIS household item is purchased more frequently as a gift than for personal use.
Answer: A blender.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
If you never lie, you never have to remember.

NOW ON OUR SHEET LIST:
Elma Maspero @ 5FM Johannesburg, South Africa; Rick Blanshan @ KIK FM 100.7 [KIKV] Alexandria MN; Frank Anderson @ Best Country KS 93 [KSDR] Watertown SD; Jody Tedford @ 97.5 The River [CKRV] Kamloops BC; Lotta Backlund @ Radio X3M Helsinki, Finland; April Skye @ 99.7 Classic Rock [KIOO] Visalia CA; Scott St. John @ Rock Hits Y-102 [WRFY] Reading/Allentown PA; and Eric Rubalcava @ Power 98 [XHMIX] Mexicali, Mexico/El Centro CA.